Angel City took a narrow win against Utah Royals at America First Field on Saturday evening, closing out a 0:1 victory in the NWSL Group Stage. The result keeps the visitors sixth in the table, level on points with a side above them, while Utah drop into fifth after a tough afternoon.
Utah's evening went sideways within the opening quarter. Paige Monaghan was sent off in the eleventh minute, and just thirteen minutes later Ana Tejada followed after a VAR review for a penalty against the hosts. Allyson Sentnor converted the spot-kick in the twenty-sixth minute, and that was the only goal the game would see.
Angel City controlled the tempo throughout. They held 74 per cent possession and registered 91 attacks compared with 50 for the home side. Their goalkeeper made only two saves, while Utah's keeper had to pull off seven stops, but the visitors still created four big chances and hit the target ten times.
Utah struggled to string passes together. They completed 101 of 171 attempts, a success rate of barely 59 per cent, and managed just six key passes. The home side also won only eight of sixteen aerial duels and failed to cover much ground in the final third.
Both teams made heavy changes in the final third. Utah brought on Prisca Chilufya just before half-time, while Angel City unleashed a flurry of substitutions around the sixty-second mark, replacing Borges, Kizer, Gordon, Miura and Lacasse in quick succession.
The win extends Angel City's recent momentum. They have now gone unbeaten in three matches, including a 3:1 victory over OL Reign midweek, while Utah's form has been mixed, with only one win in their last five outings.
